The Life of Mary Lee Kingrey Hunt
Mary Lee Kingrey (Divers) Hunt, 89, of Roanoke, went to be with the Lord on January 16, 2024 after many years of suffering with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Robert (Bob) Dewey Hunt; her parents, Frank Sylvester Kingrey and Lucille Plewes Kingrey; and an infant sister, Betty Evon Kingrey.
She is survived by her two children, Allison Divers (David Williams) and Kirk Divers (Carol), her two grandchildren, Philip and Hannah and her great grandchild, Nova Estelle all of Roanoke, Virginia; four step-daughters, Mary Beth Dearing (Bryan) of Conyers, Georgia, Terri Jessee (Lawrence) of North Augusta, South Carolina, Rebecca Hunt of Sarasota, Florida and Sandra Hunt of Roanoke, Virginia; 11 step-grandchildren, 14 step-great grandchildren (plus one on the way) as well as the father of Mary Lee’s children, Raymond Donald Divers and his wife, Barbara.
Mary Lee was a lover of the Lord and of knowledge and wisdom. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Richmond and First Baptist Church of Roanoke where she served the Lord in many capacities. After graduating from high school, she attended Hollins College then earned a B.A. from Westhampton College of the University of Richmond. Other educational endeavors included a Master’s Degree from Hollins College as well as graduate studies at the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Radford College and George Washington University. Mary Lee taught school in Roanoke City and Roanoke County, and was an elementary school administrator for twenty-two years at Glen Cove Elementary School. She also taught a January-Term at Hollins College and served for several years as an adjunct professor for Radford College. In 1986, she received the certificate for a Developmental Teaching Specialist from The Developmental Skills Institute. In 1988, she received a fellowship to National Geographic through George Washington University and in 1995 she was chosen Educator of the Year by the Roanoke Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.
After retirement, she was active in Christian Women’s Club, on the Executive Board of The Roanoke Symphony, active in the children’s ministry at her church, led Bible Studies at her home, participated in the Christian Book Club at her church, and spoiled her grandchildren in every way she could. She claimed to have a license to do that.
If only one word could be used to describe Mary Lee it would be “servant”. She put others before herself. She never passed up an opportunity to be a witness for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her children knew they were unconditionally loved. If you were a friend in need she was ready at your side. One of her prior teachers said after Mary Lee’s retirement at age 62, “She always had our backs”. Mary Lee was gratified by helping people succeed.
She was a wonderful cook and a lovely host. She was an introvert, though many people found that surprising. She had a great appetite for reading and cherished every minute spent reading a good book. Always the educator and learner; she had a big beautiful brain to match her big beautiful heart.
As Mary Lee’s last gift to her fellow man, and as a thank you to her Lord and Savior for a life filled with blessings, she donated her brain to the Brain Donor Project which partners with the NeuroBioBank of the National Institutes of Health in an effort to increase brain donation to advance science, leading to treatment and cure for a number of neurological disorders, including ME/CFS, the condition from which she suffered.
The family will visit with friends on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Oakey’s South Chapel in Roanoke where a memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm with Pastor Wayne Gadman officiating. There will be a private interment of her cremains on Friday February 9, 2024 at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Solve ME/CFS Initiative via check mailed to Solve ME/CFS Initiative, 350 N Glendale Avenue, Suite B #368, Glendale, CA 91206. You can also donate online at https://solvecfs.org. Otherwise, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.